A Festive Feud: A Holiday Romantic Comedy(37)
“Ah, oh, yes, this sweater is one hundred percent your son’s doing.” Emma glances down at her sweater and then back at Ma. “He seems to have me doing all the crazy things this year.”
A grin forms on my lips, watching the exchange between the woman I love the most and a girl who I never expected to want to be around who’s suddenly the only one I want to be around. The one who’s invaded my thoughts and my heart. I fucking love seeing them together.
“Well, y’all come on in. It’s freezing out here, and we’ve got a whole house full of people who want to officially meet you.” Ma links her arm in Emma’s and pats it gently. “Now, you don’t let those boys bother you, Emma. They’re going to poke fun, I’m sure, but if any one of them steps out of line, they know they’re never too old for my wooden spoon.”
Emma chuckles, nodding. “Yes, ma’am.”
I’m thankful that Ma stepped up before we got inside to ease her nerves a little because Lord knows the second we walk over the threshold, it’s going to be absolute, pure chaos.
When we walk in, my little sister, Josie, is currently sitting on our oldest brother Jensen’s shoulders, swaying as she tries to put the star on the top of the tree. She looks like she’s about two seconds from falling off his shoulders, but you’d never know it by the way she’s laughing and yanking at his hair with one hand.
Welcome to the Pearce family.
“Oh, Josie, be careful! You do know we have a ladder?” Ma says, shaking her head with a wry grin. “I am not going to Dr. Grant tonight for stitches or a concussion.”
“We’re fine, Ma!” Jensen quips. “She weighs a hundred pounds soaking wet.”
“Hey!” Josie says, bopping him on top of the head. “One twenty-five, thank you very much.”
I just shake my head and walk into the kitchen behind Ma and Emma. This was my favorite place in our house growing up. It’s where we ate dinner together every night. Where we had family meetings, did projects, spent late nights on homework. Where we decorated cookies with Ma every Christmas as we drank hot cocoa and listened to her favorite holiday music. It’s the one place in the house where you’d always find one of us. The table where my dad and my other brothers, Jude and Jameson, are currently sitting is the same table that was here when I was a kid.
“Wow, look what the cat dragged in,” Jude drawls. “Oh, but he brought a friend.” Standing from his chair, he walks over to Emma and offers his hand. “I don’t think we’ve ever officially met. Just kind of… seen each other from a distance. I’m Jude, this shithead’s little brother. Also, the most attractive of all the Pearce brothers… obviously.”
Her brow arches. “Obviously,” she says with humor.
That earns him a slap to the back of the head from me. “Watch it, asshole.”
Emma better think that I am the most attractive Pearce. Though, hell, if you put the four of us together in a line, it’s probably hard to tell us apart. The Pearce genes run strong.
“What? She agrees! I can’t help it if I’m the best-looking.” He shrugs.
Ignoring him, I lace my fingers back in Emma’s to pull her toward me and away from my brother, then walk to my dad and Jameson to make the introductions.
“Hi, Emma.” Dad smiles warmly, shaking her hand.
Jameson’s… being fucking Jameson. He simply gives her a nod.
It has nothing to do with her and everything to do with the fact that he’s a grumpy fuck, but I narrow my gaze at him anyway, warning him to behave.
“Emma, honey, wanna help me with these meat pies?” Ma asks from the kitchen island.
“Yes, of course.” She squeezes my hand lightly, then lets go and walks across the kitchen to where my mom is working on finishing supper.
Josie walks through the door at the same time I pull out a chair at the kitchen table and sit next to Dad. I watch as she introduces herself, and then they start talking about Emma’s sweater, which quickly shifts into talking about holiday decor.
“I totally knew you were an interior designer. I’m so excited you love Pottery Barn as much as I do! I feel like their Christmas decorations are so nostalgic. They take me back to when I was a kid,” Josie says, dreamily sighing.
Emma nods. “Yes! I love the classic look. Wait, please tell me you’re a fan of their classic knit?”
“Duh!” Josie responds excitedly, and that’s where I zone out because I have no idea what the fuck “classic knit” is. But I’m relieved that the conversation between them seems easy, like they’ve been friends all their life, not like we’re two families who have spent years feuding.
A stupid feud if you ask me. Especially now that I know Emma like I do.
“You sure you know what you’re doing, brother? A Worthington of all people?” Jude says quietly, nodding at Emma.
For a second, I’m silent as I think of what to say, my jaw working in the process. I hate the way he even says her last name like an insult. Part of me wants to tell him to fuck off, even if he is my brother, but then I remember… this is how it’s always been for our families, the feud drawing a line clear down the center of our town with us on one side and them on the other. And they haven’t gotten to know her how I have yet. Truth is, we’ve barely ever even talked to the Worthingtons, so how could they really know her?